Toys

News about Toys, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Dec. 5, 2016

High demand for interactive toy Hatchimals is creating product shortages and causing its $59 retail price to triple on resale sites; manufacturer Spin Master says popularity caught them off guard and are not sure they can meet demand in time for holiday gift giving. MORE

Apr. 23, 2016

New York Atty Gen Eric T Schneiderman says some jewelry-making kits from arts-and-crafts brand Cra-Z-Art have as much as 10 times amount of lead allowed by federal child safety limits; calls on retailers selling them to immediately remove them from shelves. MORE

Apr. 17, 2016

Legal battle between Yolanda Signorelli von Braunhut, onetime heir to fortune generated by her husband Harold's iconic Amazing Live Sea Monkeys, and Big Time Toys is threatening legacy of mail-order pets synonymous with golden age of American humbug. MORE

Mar. 26, 2016

Mattel's Thomas the Tank Engine and his locomotive friends generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales through toy and television franchises; company, seeking to expand in worldwide markets, is introducing 14 new friends for Thomas, with many coming from third-world countries. MORE

Feb. 13, 2016

Ohio Art Company sells its classic toy Etch A Sketch to Spin Master for undisclosed price. MORE

Jan. 21, 2016

NDP Group reports toys linked to movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens generated over $700 million in sales in United States in 2015, making toys No 1 property in industry for year even though they were only on market for four months. MORE

Dec. 23, 2015

Research suggests that some gadgets can make parents less likely to engage in meaningful give-and-take with their children. MORE

Dec. 10, 2015

Gadgetwise column suggests new tech toys for children as holiday gifts. MORE

Nov. 21, 2015

Sales of construction toys have risen sharply, with Lego more than doubling profits in last five years; its first-half 2015 profit was $537.5 million, and firm has 65 market share; it has popular spinoffs, competing products and animated films; Mattel's MEGA Brands is biggest competitor. MORE

Nov. 6, 2015

Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY, announces puppet, Super Soaker squirt gun and game Twister will be inducted into its National Toy Hall of Fame. MORE

Oct. 28, 2015

Retailers and manufacturers in $22 billion toy industry are heeding trend toward gender-neutral toys and Halloween costumes; many families are tired of stereotypes for boys' and girls' toys and outfits; androgynous clothing labels and store aisles are becoming more common. MORE

Sep. 20, 2015

Hello Barbie, doll produced by Mattel in collaboration with artificial intelligence specialist ToyTalk, draws on advances in AI, voice recognition and cloud computing in effort to bring longtime dream of talking dolls closer to reality; toy raises questions about impact of such technology on children. MORE

Sep. 5, 2015

Aug. 3, 2015

Retailers including Walmart, Sears and Amazon reach settlement with New York Atty Gen Eric T Schneiderman under which they will stop selling realistic-looking toy guns in state; will pay collective civil penalties of more than $300,000 for selling 6,400 such toys from 2012 to 2014. MORE

Jul. 16, 2015

Shoppers flock to F A O Schwarz on Fifth Ave to take pictures and buy souvenirs on iconic toy store's final day of business. MORE

Jul. 11, 2015

McDonald's responds to complaints that its new Happy Meal toys based on animated film Minions make noises that sound like curse words, insisting that sounds are not meant to be profane or offensive. MORE

Jun. 4, 2015

Huggable the teddy bear is a social robot prototype that is being tested at Boston Children's Hospital to see if it has therapeutic value for children who have long hospital stays; device, essentially a high-tech puppet, was developed at MIT's Media Lab. MORE

Jun. 3, 2015

Walt Disney Co introduces new toy line called Playmation that seeks to use wireless technology, motion sensors and wearable technology to encourage more active play by children; observers say line could help strike balance between digital interests of children and parents who would prefer play that forces children to run around. MORE

May. 28, 2015

Millennials lament impending closure of FAO Schwarz, iconic Manhattan toy store that for many was a touchstone of childhood wonder; store has been owned since 2009 by Toys R Us, which has so far not made specific plans for a new location. MORE

Apr. 26, 2015

Robot Factory is first in Tinybop's planned suite of digital apps aimed at children. MORE

Apr. 20, 2015

Apr. 10, 2015

Warner Bros unveils gaming and toy line called Lego Dimensions; Lego will sell collectible movie-character mini-figures, which Dimensions players can use in Warner-published video game. MORE

Mar. 29, 2015

Natasha Singer Technophoria column examines new crop of toys from companies like Mattel that will use software and web connections to communicate verbally with children; observes that while technology could help children engage in complex dialogue, it has also raised privacy concerns. MORE

Mar. 13, 2015

LeapFrog, leading maker of educational toys and games, has seen its sales fall more than 40 percent in 2014, hit by increasing competition from less expensive alternatives; parents can buy educational game apps for their smartphones and tablets, instead of spending more money on LeapFrog's specialized system. MORE

Feb. 14, 2015

Toymakers prepare to show their latest offerings at Toy Fair 2015 in New York; most popular toys are those based on blockbuster Hollywood films, and upcoming movies with toy tie-ins include Jurassic World, Cinderella and Avengers: Age of Ultron; industry insiders admit in a season packed with action movies, it can be difficult to make certain new toys stand out. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Desktop tchotchkes without any functional use, known as 'executive toys,' are as popular as ever in digital age, despite shrinking personal workspaces and distractions offered by computers. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Sex toy industry is anticipating big sales with Valentine's Day premiere of Universal Pictures' Fifty Shades of Grey; movie is based on book which spurred sales of sex-themed products; some in adult entertainment industry say sex toys account for $1 billion and $2 billion in sales annually. MORE

Jan. 27, 2015

Mattel chief executive Bryan G Stockton resigns as traditional toy sales, including those of its storied Barbie brand, topple in face of tough competition, including digital products; Christopher A Sinclair is named interim chief executive; firm reports preliminary fourth-quarter profit of $149.9 million, down from $369.2 million in year-ago quarter; revenue fell 7 percent. MORE

Dec. 25, 2014

GoldieBlox, toy company that makes engineering-based sets of blocks for girls, releases animated promotional video online; company hopes video will recapture success of earlier video it released in November and will help build up company from small start-up. MORE

Dec. 21, 2014

Jay Caspian Kang First column submits that legislation aimed at expanding laws mandating bright orange markings on replica guns will do little to prevent incidents like fatal police shooting of Tamir Rice in Cleveland; says children will continue to remove such markings, and suggests that focus on regulation serves to excise deaths of Rice and John Crawford III from the larger conversation on race and policing. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Office of New York State Atty Gen Eric T Schneiderman warns major retailers to mind state law banning sale of realistic-looking toy guns unless they have orange stripe on barrel. MORE

Dec. 13, 2014

Lego reissues Research Institute, limited-edition set of women working in a laboratory, after supplies quickly sell out. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

Gadgetwise column; roundup of noteworthy devices and toys from gadget makers that will keep children entertained and parents happy. MORE

Nov. 27, 2014

Alternative, non-digital toys are in high demand this holiday season as parents attempt to ween their children from excessive time spent in front of screens; trend has given rise to a resurgence of demand for retro toys, as well as those involving building, education and arts and crafts. MORE

Nov. 27, 2014

Farhad Manjoo State of the Art column examines rise of internet-connected toys that threaten to overrun much of the traditional mass-manufactured toy business; observes that companies like Wonder Workshop are developing toys that will acquire new capabilities over time, blend education and recreation, and most importantly reduce the amount of time children spend in front of screens. MORE

Nov. 22, 2014

Nintendo expands its playbook by releasing video game Super Smash Bros and collection of toy figurines that will interact with the game; move reflects company's need for new sales hit and addresses calls for it to move more aggressively into new product areas. MORE

Nov. 11, 2014

McDonald's is recalling Hello Kitty-themed whistle given to children in Happy meals after reports that two children coughed out pieces of the toy that they had sucked into their mouths. MORE

Aug. 22, 2014

Lego's new Research Institute toy set, which portrays three female scientists in their respective labs, sells out in under a month, testifying to demand for toys featuring women in a professional setting; company produced set following viral popularity of a letter from a little girl begging company to produce more realistic options for girls. MORE

Aug. 14, 2014

Ceramics artists James Klein and David Reid of KleinReid have created solid brass tops, inspired by Eameses' collection of the toys, selling for $138 each; tops can also be used as paperweights or ring stands. MORE

Aug. 11, 2014

Test batch of small stuffed toys called Tsum Tsum, already a hit in Japan, has sold out in some Disney Stores in the United States, and the company wonders if it has found the next Beanie Baby; Disney is rushing to restock and expand line to all of its stores. MORE

Jul. 27, 2014

Blockbuster success of merchandise based on Doc McStuffins cartoon seems to be setting a record as best-selling toy line based on African-American character; $500 million in sales in 2013 reflects in part nation's changing consumer demographics, with more children from minority backgrounds providing expanding, less segregated marketplace but also shows crossover appeal, as demographic for toy line is the broadest possible. MORE

Jul. 21, 2014

Hasbro plans to announce partnership with 3-D printing company Shapeways to sell fan art inspired by My Little Pony toy line; many other companies and large retailers are exploring ways they can use 3-D printing and printers to attract consumers. MORE

Jul. 19, 2014

Mattel is creating direct-to-consumer program to sell premium Wooden Railway line of Thomas products through catalogs and website; toy company hopes program will tap into passion that children and parents have for brand's characters and story. MORE

Jul. 18, 2014

Consumer Product Safety Commission issues formal child-safety recall for Buckyballs, powerfully magnetic stacking balls, following two-year battle; consumers will have a six-month window to apply for refunds; Craig Zucker, former head of manufacturer Maxfield & Oberton Holdings, will be personally liable for an estimated $57 million in recall costs. MORE

Jun. 29, 2014

Slip ’N Slide was invented by boat-seating upholsterer Robert D Carrier in summer of 1960 after he came home to find his 10-year-old-son and his friend sliding down wet concrete driveway. MORE

Jun. 2, 2014

Amazon and Mattel are teaming up to sell merchandise for cartoon Fireman Sam, potentially controversial experiment that, if successful, could create new model for marrying television shows with related merchandise. MORE